Perry Fewell may have inherited an "opportunity of a lifetime," as he termed it, when he was named interim head coach of the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday night, but he also inherits a nightmare situation in terms of injuries. That situation got worse on Wednesday morning, as starting tight end Derek Fine was placed on Injured Reserve. His season is now over thanks to a knee injury. The Bills themselves confirmed the news via Twitter.
To fill out their depth chart at tight end, the Bills signed street free agent Joe Klopfenstein, a second-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2006. Klopfenstein has 33 career receptions in three seasons.
Fine was Buffalo's starting tight end by default after the Bills lost opening-day starter Derek Schouman to a season-ending knee injury. With both Schouman and Fine gone, rookie fourth-round pick Shawn Nelson will likely be the team's full-time starter at tight end, with Jonathan Stupar and Klopfenstein providing depth.
The Bills have now had six players hit the IR list since opening day. Fine joins an ever-expanding list including Schouman, tackle Brad Butler, linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs, and cornerback Leodis McKelvin.